Play@YSDC

Wednesday, April 3rd, 1929

7am

Arkham, Massachusetts

The previous afternoon, a surprise lay in store for Alice at the office. Waiting patiently was Henry Glynn, long thought lost after the horrifying events at the abandoned farm. The reunion is a welcome respite from the mysteries of recent events.

But the horror is only just beginning.

The next day, the phone rings in Alice’s apartment just as she is getting up on another fine morning.

“It’s Harden” comes the voice on the other end. “Can you get that group together and come meet me? 374 West Curwen Street.”

The phone clicks off as the receiver is replaced.

Alice calls up the rest of the group to let everyone know, then gets dressed and heads out to the location to meet the others.

Henry Glynn heads to West Curwen Street to meet Alice and the others. He'd learned the details of the case when he called on her the previous day and decided to take a break from writing. The book he's been working on has been absorbing a lot of his time and he hasn't seen much of his friends of late.

Henry Appleton makes his way there as well, greeting the newcomer with formal politeness.He wonders what the police have found out that necessitates the group coming together once again.

Emily would probably get the message when she arrives at work - at least this time having the excuse that the police have asked for her presence.

She introduces herself to the new Henry with, "Hello, I'm Emily. I work at the Exhibit Museum, but I don't think that's why I'm here."
Then asks Alice and the existing Henry, "Has anyone said what's happened? Has Atwater... or... is this something we really buy, that he and that other man could have switched bodies somehow? But, has he shown up?"

"I'm sorry, I really don't know," says Alice. "Detective Harden didn't give me any details before he hung up the phone. I guess he'll fill us in when we see him."

374 W. Curwen St. is a fine old house, built in the colonial style. Whoever owns it is obviously not short of money.

When the companions arrive, they notice a couple of policemen on duty. One of them spots the companions, and calls into the house.

After a moment, Detective Harden steps out and approaches. As a few bystanders have gathered, curious as to why the police are in the neighbourhood, Harden speaks in a low voice so he cannot be overheard.

“Thanks for coming” Harden begins. “I need your help with this.”

He leads the investigators into the house, and stops in the hallway, which is decorated in flock wallpaper. The furniture looks expensive, and the walls are covered in paintings.

“The owner, Mrs. Nina Williams Hope, was found dead last night by her maid who had come to prepare dinner. She had been murdered. Does the name mean anything to any of you?”

OOC, The answer is probably "no".

"Should it?" Henry asks, careful not to admit his ignorance.

Harden frowns.

"Do you know of any association between her and Henry Atwater?"

"I don't think I've ever heard of her myself," says Alice.

"I'm sure I don't know what you are referring to. What is their relation?"

"This case gets stranger by the day. What was the murder weapon?" asks Henry Glynn

"She was bludgeoned with the fireplace poker. Opportunistic, in that sense."

Harden shakes his head.

"Do you know of any relationship between them?"

"Can't say i do Detective. Who was Mrs Hope? She's got a nice old place here - what business are the family in?" asks Henry Glynn

“No business. She was eighty-one. Her late husband was an accountant.”

He glances behind him.

“Atwater was looking for something. The library upstairs is in a shambles. But we don’t know what he wanted or if he found it. I’m hoping you can help with that, try and get a sense of what he was after. You lot being educated, and all - you might be able to make sense of the books and records there. Ordinarily the Chief wouldn't let civilians near this place with a ten-feet pole, but we need to get him before he kills again.”

"I see why you called us. This could be his second murder. I'll be happy to help." Henry is slightly disturbed by this. Normally he is not given to sentimentalism, but he had always known Atwater to be a friendly fellow; recent events were disturbing in that regard.

He heads towards the library. Research might be able to help him get into the lad's mind.

"We'll help however we can," says Alice. "Let's take a look at her library." She also heads upstairs.

"I don't think I've heard of her," Emily says to Detective Harden about Mrs Hope. She nods to the suggestion of searching upstairs and follows Alice.

A tall, muscular young man runs up just as Harden was finishing.
“So sorry I’m late; had a bit of a to-do at the rooms. Hullo, you must be Mr Appleton!” Fort grabs Henry A’s hand and pumps it vigorously. “A pleasure to meet you; I’m Garland Fortesque Throckmorton but just ‘Fort’ is fine.
“Did I hear you were going up to the library? Maybe I could have a look around elsewhere, Detective; I’m not too handy with books.”